3 Tips to Growing Scouting in an Underserved Market

Every child should have the opportunity to experience the character-building fun and adventure that Scouting has to offer. Reaching every child, however, can be quite a challenge. But it doesn’t have to be! With a little outside-the-box thinking, developing new units in underserved markets is an excellent growth strategy for councils.

In a recent Bryan on Scouting post, Bryan chatted with Assistant Scoutmaster and District Commissioner Brian Collins of the Central Florida Council to zero in on some quick tips volunteers can use to grow Scouting in unexpected places.

“Brian is one of those leaders every district dreams about,” Sand Lake District Executive Richard Fallon says. “He comes up with innovative ideas and goes for it. I’m convinced he spends time driving around the community scoping out unique and underserved areas. I love getting the phone calls where Brian asks: ‘Have we ever started a unit here?’ Because I know there will be one soon.”

How can you be more like this stand-out Scouting leader? Check out the successful methods Brian has applied to unit development in areas that Scouting hasn’t flourished just yet.

1. Be Patient

The unit formation and chartering process may take longer than expected, so it’s important to be patient. Collins says niche markets are usually very welcoming and appreciative, but they’re often unfamiliar with Scouting or misunderstand its methods.

“In my case, I started the first Islamic Cub Scout pack and Scout troop in my district,” Collins shared. “While the parents, elders and community leaders were supportive of Scouting, most thought it was just about camping and outdoor skills. As a commissioner, you will have to do a lot of education and also understand that certain cultures work at different speeds when it comes to introducing and getting approval for something that is new to them.”

2. Do Your Homework

Understanding community culture is crucial when it comes to growing Scouting in unfamiliar markets. Before you approach a potential chartered organization representative, do some research to get a better understanding of communication styles and cultural hierarchies.

“Certainly, much of this will be learned on the job, and it is OK of you make a few small gaffes along the way, but try to do as much research upfront to avoid blatant insensitivities,” Collins says.

When Collins wanted to started a Scout unit in the local Orthodox Jewish community, for example, he knew the culture avoids any sort of physical contact with women, including shaking hands.

“Knowing to honor and respect this when appropriate helps avoid embarrassing or awkward exchanges,” he says.

3. Pair the New Unit with an Established Unit

“One of the biggest factors that helped my new Islamic Scout troop to succeed was the fact that they mentored under an established troop for most of their first year,” Collins says. “As we struggled to find qualified parents, add new boys and build a quality program, having the security and support of an established troop was a real lifesaver.”

This method isn’t just about building new units, though – it brings value to established units, too. Not only did the veteran troop help the new troop, but the established troop also benefitted by making new friends and learning about another culture.

“Within the context of the mentoring troop, their experienced boys and leaders mentored ours and took much of the pressure off, allowing us time to jell and build our program,” Collins says.

Get More Tips

For the complete list of pointers you can use, stop by Bryan on Scouting to get the full scope of tips you can implement to start a new Scout unit in an underserved market. Have any tips that have worked for your local area? Share your stories in the comments below.